Africana Studies Degree in Akron, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Africana Studies degree analysis for Akron, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$44K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$63K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
10.9 yrs
in Akron
Cost of Living
105
index (100 = avg)
Africana Studies in Akron, OH Overview
While Akron has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Africana Studies students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $8,745/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Africana Studies enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Cultural Analysis and Research. The adjusted starting salary in Akron is approximately $44,100.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$11,330/yr
Private Tuition
$45,325/yr
Room & Board
$8,745/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,336/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
72%
Africana Studies Salary in Akron (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Akron's cost of living index of 105 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Africana Studies salary: $42,000 starting, $60,000 mid-career, $80,000 senior level.Akron adjustment factor: 1.05x based on the local cost of living index.
Africana Studies ROI Calculator for Akron
Estimate your return on investment for a Africana Studies degree using local Akron tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,330 | Private avg: $45,325
Akron avg aid: $8,336/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$80,300
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,350
vs HS diploma in Akron
ROI Payback Period
10.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Akron
$339,700
Lifetime earnings premium ($420,000) minus total education cost ($80,300)
Student Loan Payoff for Africana Studies in Akron
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Akron for Africana Studies
University of Akron
public
$11,330/yr
$45,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Stark State College
$4,344/yr
Top Employers for Africana Studies in Akron
Akron offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Africana Studies graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Akron Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Africana Studies Job Titles
Africana Studies in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$43K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cleveland, OH
$40K starting · COL 96
20 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$43K starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$45K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Dayton, OH
$44K starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Parma, OH
$38K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$35K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$36K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Akron
Chinese Studies
$58K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$53K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$53K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$44K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$46K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$53K starting · 8 yr ROI
Art History
$53K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Africana Studies Degree in Akron — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Africana Studies ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Akron.